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Come and work with us for a day, agents tell Calder
Agents are calling on travel editor and television presenter Simon Calder to spend a day working in a travel agency after becoming furious at comments he made during a BBC show.
Calder, senior travel editor for the Independent and known as ‘The man who pays his way’, told BBC viewers it was currently a buyer’s market with holiday bargains of £300 to be had.
But agents responded angrily on Facebook page ‘Travel Gossip’, challenging Calder to work in their agencies for a day to see what it’s really like.
Sandie Nutter, a homeworker for Ultimate Destinations, said when you add up all the costs involved, including baggage and under occupancy, holidays are unlikely to add up to the "magical" £300.
"I know this because I work in the industry and do this on a daily basis," she told Calder.
"Here’s a thought, why not work in an agency for a day. And I suggest you work for an independent agency, where you will really learn what it is like to be a travel expert, instead of just labelling yourself as one, with no experience of how the industry really works I have worked in travel 30 years, and wouldn’t dream of calling myself an expert."
She said claims like these by Calder prompt customers to go into their local agency and expect to get holidays at low prices.
"The customer then thinks we are ripping them of on the pricing, so giving travel agents a poor name. Of course they forget the marvellous free advice service we give, so helping to give an informed decision on there holiday options.
"With little knowledge consumers book hotels we as agents would never use, they have no idea on what financial protection is available."
When it all goes wrong, said Nutter, they end up on programmes likes Holidays From Hell "so we get kicked again".
She said the BBC and Calder need to give better information and make a more fair representation of how the industry works.
But she added: "Simon to his credit has emailed me and is keen to find out what it really is like on the front line, so may be we are getting through now."
Folllwing today’s TravelMole story, Calder has issued a response saying he stands by his claims. Click here to see it in full.
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
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